As reporters crowded around, Wedge dutifully discussed another
Indians loss - his last game at home.

He praised his starting pitcher, complimented Chicago's and then
offered a polite thank you.

Then, it was goodbye.

Cleveland will have a new manager next season.

Wedge's seven-year run in Cleveland reached an unusual
conclusion at home on Wednesday when he and his coaching staff
were fired in the final days of a crashed season and just hours
before a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.

The Indians won the opener 5-1 before dropping the second game
1-0 in a finale like so many other Cleveland losses this season.

It was a strange ending for Wedge, who despite losing his job,
will finish the season.

Wedge is going out with his head held high.

"We had a lot of games here," he said. "We had a lot of great
days here. A lot of great players have come through here.
They'll keep going and I'll keep going."

Mark Buehrle pitched six crisp innings and Paul Konerko drove in
the only run as the White Sox won the second game to get the
split.

Buehrle (13-10) outdueled Justin Masterson (4-10) and sent Wedge
off on a final road trip to Boston's Fenway Park, where the
Indians played for the AL title just two years ago, with another
tough loss to ponder.

It's been a tough year for a club that was expected to contend
in the AL Central but crumbled instead.

Once the Indians fell from contention and traded reigning AL Cy
Young Award winner Cliff Lee and All-Star catcher Victor
Martinez in July, the club asked Wedge to try and win while
developing young players. Even after he was dismissed, Wedge
hasn't deviated from his mission.

"My focus right now is on these last four games and making sure
good things happen, like with Masterson," he said. "What a great
night for him. That's what it's all about."

Wedge kept his emotions in check as he left Progressive Field.

"This is where my home is," he said. "This stadium and this city
mean a great deal to me."

Cleveland finished 35-46 at home, the club's worst mark since
1991 when the Indians lost a franchise-record 105 games and
finished at the bottom of the East. The Indians also drew
1,766,242 fans, their lowest total since 1992 when they were at
the old Municipal Stadium.

Buehrle allowed three hits - two in the first - and struck out
three in one of his best performances since his perfect game on
July 23.

Masterson was better. He struck out 12, the most by a Cleveland
right-hander since Bartolo Colon fanned 13 at Yankee Stadium on
Sept. 18, 2000. Masterson, who came over in a deadline deal with
Boston, gave up four hits in his first career complete game.

He is the first Indians pitcher to strike out at least 12 in a
1-0 complete-game loss since Sam McDowell in 1968.

"I wanted to end on a strong note and have something to take
into spring training," Masterson said. "I feel good about that.
It was a strange day. We played two games of baseball in about
five hours and had everything else going on, but kept battling."

Chicago's Matt Thornton worked the ninth for his fourth save.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen had nothing but praise for
Wedge.

"It was the last time to manage against his ballclub," Guillen
said. "That's part of the game. I feel for him, of course. He's
a great man and a great baseball person. I wish him the best of
luck. He will get another job."

Buehrle had struggled since throwing the 18th perfect game in
history against Tampa Bay.

The Indians were fortunate to get a pair of two-out hits off
Buehrle in the first. After that, the left-hander dominated
them.

With two down, Shin Soo-Choo singled and Jhonny Peralta doubled.
Matt LaPorta then grounded out on a ball that deflected off
Buehrle's glove to second baseman Brent Lillibridge, ending
Cleveland's only threat.

The White Sox weren't having much more success against
Masterson, who matched Buehrle pitch for pitch until Konerko
singled in a run in the sixth. DeWayne Wise led off with a
double over the head of center fielder Trevor Crowe. Masterson
retired the next two before Konerko bounced a hit through the
middle.

Travis Hafner homered in the opener for Cleveland. The
designated hitter, whose injuries have contributed to
Cleveland's slide in the standings, was pleased he could hit one
on the day Wedge was released.

"Wedge and I came to town the same year," he said. "He has
taught me a lot about the game and life as well. It's been a
tough day."

NOTES: Masterson is 0-6 in his last seven starts. ... Buehrle is
the only active pitcher to throw at least 200 innings in each of
the past nine seasons. ... The last time the Indians finished
their home schedule with a doubleheader was in 1972 against
Baltimore. ... Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera left in the fifth
inning of the opener with tightness in his right hamstring and
did not play in the second game.